Dallas City Wire

Of the 913 students at G. W. Kennemer Middle School in Dallas, 740 (81%) "weren't on the academic track to qualify for college in the 2021-22 school year, according to Dallas City Wire's analysis of test scores from the Texas Education Agency (TEA). To better understand these statistics, it's important to know what TSI (Texas Success Initiative) and CCMR (College, Career, and Military Readiness) are, as they are key indicators of a student's readiness for post-secondary education or career paths.

Primary data on overall student readiness in G. W. Kennemer Middle School is derived from the TSI's assessments, which evaluate student capabilities in reading, writing, and mathematics. Certain students may qualify for exemptions from these assessments. In contrast, CCMR focuses on preparedness for life post-high school, factoring in TSI scores along with other criteria like dual credits, AP/IB exam results, and more, to provide insights into specific subject performance.

In the 2021-22 school year, G. W. Kennemer Middle School's student population was made up of 913 students, of which 99 were Hispanic, 62 African American, six White, four Multiracial, and three Asian students.

Data shows that 38% of G. W. Kennemer Middle School nine Asian students, 35% of its 18 white students, 25% of its 19 multiracial students, 21% (99) of its 474 Hispanic students, and 16% (62) of its 390 African American students had "mastered" their grade level in the 2021-22 school year and were "on track for college and career readiness," as measured by state academic standards.

The TEA says students who meet, but haven't mastered their grade level are "prepared to progress to the next grade," but are not on a college track.

In 2020-21, the TEA noted that 820 G. W. Kennemer Middle School students - equivalent to 90% of the student population - were not on the academic path to college eligibility. This contrasts with 2021-22, where the percentage stood at 81%, marking a 9% decrease from the previous year.

Despite an improvement after the pandemic, Texas students are still struggling to keep a good performance and reach grade level in schools. In the 2021-22 school year, nearly two-thirds (60%) of students were below grade level in math and 48% did not meet the standards in reading language and arts.

According to Chandra Villanueva, director of policy and advocacy for Every Texan, one of the main causes for this is bad funds management. "Your average homeowner is like, 'Look, I'm paying more and more every single year. Why are my schools still underfunded, overcrowded, my teachers underpaid? Obviously, the schools are doing a bad job with my money,'" she said in an interview. Currently, Texas residents pay more than $70 billion annually in taxes destined to public education.

Gov. Abbott has been calling not only for an end to the main school property tax, but to use public money to support private schools. The initiative is called universal private school choice and, if passed, would allow residents to use taxpayer money to pay for their kids' private education.

"School choice not only improves education for every kid and every parent who chooses that pathway," Abbott said at the Texas Capitol on Oct. 16.

School	Total Students	% On College Track
Central Elementary School	412	85%
Charles Acton Elementary School	519	85%
Cj & Anne Hyman Elementary School	436	85%
Clint Q. Smith Elementary School	297	96%
Duncanville High School	4,549	91%
Fairmeadows Elementary School	410	75%
G. W. Kennemer Middle School	913	81%
Glenn C. Hardin Intermediate School	509	86%
Grace R. Brandenburg Intermediate School	397	84%
High Bob Daniel Senior Intermediate School	490	88%
James R. Bilhartz Junior Elementary School	538	87%
Junior Herman Reed Middle School	534	83%
Mary E. Smithey Pace High School	87	99%
Merrifield Elementary School	331	86%
School Gus Alexander Junior Elementary	374	91%
William High Byrd Middle School	625	85%
William Lee Hastings Elementary School	522	94%

Source: Texas Education Agency.